I love Philippa Gergory's writing and Dawnslands once again did not disappoint. This was the perfect ending to the trilogy and would up all the threads perfectly. A mix of history and mystery, filled with memorable characters, and an atmospheric setting, this gripping novel was unputdownable from the beginning to the end. I love how fresh and unique Gergory's historical fiction novels are in the genre. This entire series is not to be missed.

Many thanks to Atria and Netgalley for the gifted e-copy!

Book: Dawnlands
Author: Phillipa Gregory
Series: Fairmile, #3
Publisher: Atria (Simon & Schuster),
Length: 526 Pages
Overall Rating: 5/5 Stars
Blog Rating: 5/5 Saltire Stars


In this book it is 1685 and England is bursting at the seams where civil war is in the near future. Furthermore the current King Charles II has passed away without a child (heir) so the new King is his brother James.

However there are many not happy about this decision and are not welcoming their new King or his young bride. This eventually starts a rebellion where William of Orange and his wife, who is also King James' daughter, becomes Queen.

Ned Ferryman is happy hearing of a rebellion against the Stuart Royalty returning from the colonies with his Indian servant to join the uprising against Jacobite catholic King James. As Ned swears honor to the Duke of Monmouth, he finds a new love.

Queen Mary brings her friend Livia to a terrified court. Livia hauls her son Matthew and his foster mothers Alinor and Alys to save the queen from Monmouth's invasion, and Matthew is gifted with the Manor of Foulmire: on the tidelands where Ned, Alinor and Alys had made bad choices and impoverished living.

Therefore, Alinor is lady of the house, now Ned leads into the last battle between the royalists and commoners, praying for freedom. A powerful story of power, betrayal, deception, intrigue, and more.

Been reading Gregory’s books for years as well as I have watched many shows on Starz too. She always writes a story that is absolutely awe-inspiring, unforgettable and extraordinary! It is almost like getting a history lesson in school that is absolutely exhilarating! Her phenomenal books are always a brilliant masterpiece! As this Dawnland novel is spectacular, a book Gregory fans do not want to miss!

A book any lover of history and fiction will absolutely love!

Disclaimer: I received an advance reader copy from Atria (Simon and Schuster) publishers. I voluntarily agreed to do a fair review and blog through netgalley. All thoughts, ideas and words are my own.

Dawnlands wraps up Philippa Gregory's Fairmile trilogy, closing loops on the story lines begun with Alinor (and her children) and her brother Ned Ferryman. The series begins in Foulmire lands, muddy soupy quicksand lands that only locals know how to navigate. When this book opens, the family entire has left those lands, with Ned off to the American colonies, and Alinor's crew land in London to run a busy wharf to support the growing family.

These books were my first of this author's and I'm glad I had the opportunity to read them. I recommend this series for all those who are interested in historical fiction, especially during this time period - this particular book covers the years 1685 to 1689. There's intrigue aplenty, and characters to love and ones you'd like to smack (not in the pleasurable sense).

Very satisfying. I will hunt down another read from Ms. Gregory's pen.

*A sincere thank you to Philippa Gregory, Atria Books and NetGalley for an ARC to read and review independently.*

I have been a fan of Philippa Gregory’s books for about 10 years now and I have read a lot of her books so I’m always excited when I can finally get the chance to read her books.


I very much enjoyed this one. I just couldn’t stop reading .

I recomned .

Raise your hand if you’ve ever placed a request for an ARC on @netgalley and then, when you’re approved realize it’s a trilogy. 🙋🏼‍♀️

That’s what happened here with Dawnlands. I absolutely love Philippa Gregory and when I saw her name I just clicked. I knew once I had it that I then had to read the two back books as well. Gregory’s stories are just too developed to try to jump in on your own at book three.

Starting with Tidelands, book one in The Fairmile series, you are introduced to Alinor and her family. Alinor is skilled with herbs and is a midwife when needed in the small marshy landscape of the Tidelands. She is introduced to a young man named James, who will forever change her life as well as those in her small family…

Dark Tides, book two, follows Alinor’s family as they faces new challenges and difficulties. James has returned to her, making new requests amongst other sidelines. Also, Livia is introduced to the storyline and I absolutely HATED her. Don’t worry, I’m not ruining anything with my distaste for her. 😜

Dawnlands rounds out the series; I’m not sure if Gregory will continue this family’s story, but we shall see. 🤷‍♀️ Alinor’s brother, Ned (who we’ve known since book one) and a young, indigenous woman are the focal point of this last book and I loved it. Even if Livia was still in this book screwing everything up. Maybe she can be someone I love to hate?

In case you’re wondering, I still love Philippa Gregory after reading all three of these. I’m not sure if Dawnlands or Tidelands is my favorite, but they’re neck and neck.

I love Philippa's books! She puts so much into each of them. With history and what ifs, and playing with the mystery of the people and places.
I loved this book. I was drawn in,and couldn't put it down!

This is the third book in the Fairmile series. This book picks up where the second book takes place. The characters are already established and had good development. I thought that this book was very rushed, especially the end. Nevertheless, it was very fast-paced that is full of political intrigue and drama. Fans of Philippa Gregory will not be disappointed!

I really tried to like this because I did enjoy the first two books in this series. But I just could not get into the story this time. A lot of characters, a lot of back and forth between story lines. I did not finish reading this so I will not post this to Goodreads or my blog. Thank you for the opportunity to read this book.

#Dawnlands #PhilippaGregory #Simon&SchusterAudio #LouiseBrealey #AtriaBooks #NetGalley

"Dawnlands" is the third book in the Fairmile Series where we reconnect with Alinor and Alys, the fiercely determined protagonists from previous books, along with James, the spurned lover, and Ned Ferryman, the brother. Ned returns from his adventures in The New World, accompanied by his Pokanoket servant, Rowan.

Set in 1685, England is a nation deeply divided and in turmoil. Charles II has died without an heir, leaving his devout Catholic brother, James II, to ascend the throne. Rebellion is stirring. Ned joins the rebellion, while Alinor and Alys are persuaded by the conniving Livia to protect the dowager queen, enticed by the prospect of being rewarded with the ownership of Tidelands.

Gregory masterfully retells the tale of James II's succession through the eyes of Alinor, Alys, Livia, and Ned. Louise Brealey's narration adds depth and emotion to the story.

I thoroughly enjoyed this advance listening copy. It is a splendid option for lovers of historical fiction.

Thank you for providing this book in exchange for my honest review. This author and her stories of historical fiction are one of my favorites and this book was no exception. Gripping story that was such a lovely read.

Enjoyed this novel, set during the time of King James I and his ouster from the throne. With intricate characters, including a Native American woman, you get swept away by the history!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this copy for an honest review! I loved the first two books in this series and I enjoyed reading this one as well. This one wasn't as fast-paced and exciting as the first two books but nevertheless I found it a pleasant read. The historical research that the author puts into writing these novels is incredible and if you like English history you should read this book! I can't really say much about the facts because I don't want to spoil anything for those that haven't read the first two books. Definitely worth reading though!

2.5

This was the best book in the series, though that really isn't saying much. Some of the characters were better than previous books, while others were worse. The plot was okay; there's a lot going on and the book jumps between multiple plot lines. The chapters are all pretty short, with some taking only a minute or two to read before it ends and switches to the next. It can make it hard to keep track of what's going on with so many threads and so little time devoted to each one. It can also make it hard to care about what's happening, as something important will happen and then the chapter ends and switches to another plot line and won't come back to the one you were reading for several chapters.

I had hoped Livia wouldn't be around in this book, but unfortunately she appears right off the bat and is still as horrible as before, She has absolutely no redeeming qualities. She only uses people to get what she wants and has no qualms whatsoever about hurting people or pretending she cares to further her goals. I had almost given this book 3 stars, but her appearance at the very end ruined it for me. After 35 years, Alys still has not had any growth. She still blames James 100% for what happened to Alinor, and still forgets that it was 100% her own fault that Alinor was in that position in the first place. I believe James was actually regretful for what happened, and I think being married to Livia was punishment enough. But both he and Alinor have very abrupt endings to their stories in the middle of the book, and after that are thought of very little. I wish something more had been done with both of them. I felt bad that Matthew had to be caught up in Livia's scheming and that he couldn't see that she didn't have any real love for him. She only came around when she wanted something from him, and had no problem ruining his life to suit her wants or needs. Johnnie was quite the frustrating character; he basically had YA standard insta-love for Rowan, but only when it convenience him. He wanted her for a wife, but as a proper English wife. When she ended up in Barbados, he planned to make enough money to buy her from her owner and hold her slave debt as his own, and would set her free after her 10 years of servitude. When he heard she was dead, he didn't question it at all and went on his merry way, but when Ned revealed she was still alive, the insta-love came back full force. It was odd to say the least. Ned was a little better than the previous book, though I still feel he is written with too much of a 21st century perspective. His line at the end of the book, where he says, "And when we choose liberty, and justice for all, we will have it," was slightly eye-roll inducing. Might as well have him out reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.

I also noticed something in this book that I didn't in the previous two, where the author sticks questions marks at the end of sentences where there should be periods. It's very jarring to be reading and have had the sentences end in questions, especially when most of them shouldn't have been. A good example is when Johnnie is talking to some women about silk he had ordered that was perfect for the new prince, as it was Prince of Wales purple. A lady asks if it was new, and he replies that it was for the very occasion of the prince's birth. To which the woman states, "And you bought it in ready? How clever of you?" There is absolutely no reason for the question mark at the end of the second sentence. This happens repeatedly throughout the book. It's hard to tell if it's from bad writing or bad editing. Either way, it's irritating.

The book really only picked up in the last 10% with the fleeing of the Queen and all the riots and invaders moving in. I wish it had ended with the second to last chapter, as the last one ruined what could have been a decent ending. It also ends in a way that there could be another book, though I think this is highly unnecessary.

Great fiction rich in historical detail. Loved it!
Many thanks to Atria and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest feedback.

Dawnlands is the third book of the Fairmile Series. It feels like forever since I read the first two and took a little while for me to get back into. I usually love Philippa Gregory's books, but this one seemed very drawn out.

❤️ Dawnlands provides resolutions to the storylines, and I was pretty happy with how most of the characters end up. Some of it was very sad though 😔

❤️ There was a lot of travel back and forth and all around during the novel. There were also a lot of characters to keep up with as the book is told from various views throughout.

❤️ This is definitely a book that cannot be read as a stand-alone. I had trouble with it because it's been a while since I read the first two. I would have been lost if I didn't have an idea of what happened to the characters in the previous books.

I am truly a fan of Philippa Gregory normally, but this series overall wasn't my favorite of her work.

Having loved Philippa Gregory’s Tidelands, the first book in the Fairmile Trilogy and not cared as much for Dark Tides #2, I am so glad I decided to read Dawnlands #3. This installment covers the period 1685 -1689. When the book opens, Ned is returning to England along with Rowan, an indigenous girl he saves from slavery. Little did I know how much I would love Rowan’s story. During this period there is a war for the monarchy. Most of the characters are back including one who readers love to hate. My favorite the part of the story takes place in Barbados. While reading the last hundred pages, Gregory sure doesn’t make the reader feel like the close of a trilogy. Will Gregory come back with a fourth book or start a new series based on the character Rowan?

4.5 stars.

This series continues to engage. It is a good merging of nonfiction and fiction with some great elements of history beyond England. The series has been different from most of her books as it has focused on a more commonplace family, but this installment does veer a bit more toward the typical plot lines of her novels as it does bring in more of the English royal history while merging some very interesting pieces.

Though the plot can move a bit slowly in some places, there is still the charm of a typical Philippa Gregory novel. Her character work is fantastic and the emotions evoked by her writing run the gamut. The family saga continues to be interesting and she has added additional characters so that the story now includes four generations. Gregory also manages to create quite the villainous character in Livia. She may be one of the best characters in the book and I loved to hate her. Gregory has slowly been building her awfulness and it reaches peak meddler in this novel.

The ending takes place in a way that leaves things potentially open for further novels in this series and I would be very interested to see where the story can go. I feel like there is quite a lot of potential remaining and a lot of character arcs that I need to see furthered. This was possibly my favorite in the series so far, so I am now hungering for more.

Dnf. Couldn’t get through it. Rating will not be posted to goodreads or retailers as I only share ratings there for books I complete.

All the main characters are back, but many are none the wiser. The trickery and seemingly naivety of some characters continue. Characters grow older but necessarily smarter (hello, Alyhs and Rob). I was disappointed that Alinor has become such a footnote to the story and only pops up occasionally. Sarah, such a fixture in book 2, is virtually non-existent. Ned is a central figure whose storyline is complicated as he has a knack for finding himself in multiple skirmishes throughout the years. I feel conflicted about Rowan's storyline, I liked her storyline, but the third act felt rushed and unfinished. Which is the overall feel of the book, unfinished. No one character feels complete and while we can't see some of them again, it feels like there is more to tell about The Fairmile. Still, the wonderful narrative makes brings color to long descriptive passages. I enjoyed this series and look forward to more from this author.

Dawnlands is (apparently) the third in a series set at the end of 17th century England during the reign of King William and Queen Mary. Unlike many of Philippa Gregory's other books, Dawnlands focused mostly on the lives of fictional characters. I have read around 20 Philippa Gregory books starting when I was in high school and was so excited to get to early review one of her books. What I didn't realize is that this is the third book in the series and is not stand alone. When I found this out, I knew I was in trouble, but I didn't have enough time to read the first two books. I'm semi-familiar with the time period and just decided to go for it.

Well, don't do that. Like many other Philippa Gregory books, characters from previous generations are very much present and they don't really go into much detail about why they are doing whatever they are doing and previous relationships. Honestly, I was able to go with it based on context clues, knowledge of the period, and familiarity with the writing style for the first part of the book. But then another issue became apparent. Which brings me to my next point...

This book is boring as tar. I'm sorry, Philippa, I wanted to love it! I'm sure that it didn't help that I had no idea who anyone was but it was soooo slow. The characters were not compelling enough on their own to hold my attention and the plot moved along like an inchworm. I'm really not sure that I would have been more interested if I had actually read the first two books.

This is the first book that I have read by the author that includes racially diverse characters, including indigenous people and Black and African slaves. There were also some sapphic moments; I'm not sure how much was built off of the previous books (hopefully it did) because it sure didn't seem like anything but manipulation in this book. I feel like it was not prepared to actually critically deal with these issues and the takeaways fell super flat for me. I'm also just kind of done with Philippa Gregory's characterizing an annoying "evil" woman as worse than everyone else. I noticed that this is something I have seen a lot in her books.

Overall, I recommend this book if you have read and liked the other two. Don't be stupid and read it by itself like me. I had been planning on going back to read the other two books but now I think I'll skip them. 2 stars from me. Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for the electronic advanced reader's copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!